Broadway Nights

By: Seth Rudetsky

Narrated by: Seth Rudetsky, Kristin Chenoweth, Andrea Martin, Ann Harada, Richard Kind, Jeff Bowen, Jonathan Groff

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

Stephen Sheerin was born to play on Broadway - or at least, under it. He's a musician, a conductor, and his dream is to music-direct a big Broadway musical. After years of toiling in the pit of some of the best-loved (and loathed) hits on the Great White Way, he's just been given his big break. Can life really be going that well?

Of course not - his family is driving him crazy, and his boyfriend can't seem to get rid of his other boyfriend. Add to that an alcoholic diva, the cheapest producing team on Broadway, and a comatose casting director, and you have some of the other characters buzzing around Stephen's Broadway break. Then there's Stephen himself - neurotic and bitchy - who realizes that maybe total happiness is overrated.

Narrated by Seth Rudetsky, from Sirus radio and Broadway's The Ritz; Kristin Chenoweth, Tony Award winner, star of Wicked and TV's Pushing Daisies; James Wesley from the Rosie O'Donnell cruise ship; Jonathan Groff, Tony Nominee from Broadway's Spring Awakening; Andrea Martin, Tony Award winner, from SCTV, and currently in Young Frankenstein; Jeff Bowen, Hunter Bell, and Susan Blackwell from [title of show]; Andrea Burns, from Broadway's Tony nominated In the Heights; Andy Karl, from Broadway's Legally Blonde and the upcoming 9 to 5; Anika Larsen, from off Broadway's Zanna, Don't and Broadway's Xanadu; Mary Birdsong (from TV's RENO 911); Billy Porter, from Broadway's Grease and winner of Star Search!; Richard Kind, from TV's Spin City and Broadway's The Producers. Jim Price, from Les Miserables and Off-Broadway's Bat Boy; Ann Harada from Avenue Q and the upcoming 9 to 5; Emily Skinner Tony nominee from Broadway's Side Show; Juli Wesley - Becky's First Grade Class at PS 98; and Sally Rudetsky (Seth's Mom).

©2007 Seth Rudetsky (P)2008 Audible

Critic Reviews

"Pretty chorus boys flirt with the world, backstage liaisons complicate rehearsals, and old friends finally become happy lovers - this is a gay romance, after all. But the real fun of the fictional romp is the wealth of factual showbiz lore - much of it bitchy and most of it hilarious - that theater insider Rudetsky packs into his charmingly giddy plot." ( San Francisco Bay Times)
"I love Seth Rudetsky! He is Mr. Broadway! Seth's love for the Musical Theatre equals my own and his knowledge of all things Broadway is an obsession to be cherished. His chronicle of the journey of starstruck kid to Broadway pianist/conductor is a wonderful every-theatre-kid tale with wicked humor and New York City savvy, sass, and insight. I LOVE THIS BOOK!" (Betty Buckley, Tony Award-winning actress/singer)
"Even if Broadway isn't your thing, you'll still laugh at the comedy." ( AudioFile)

A *must-have* for any fan of Broadway or humor!

If you've ever seen Seth Rudetsky in comedic action (and if you haven't, do yourself a favor and search for him on YouTube), then you know the kind of sassy and witty humor he brings to everything he does. When you *read* BROADWAY NIGHTS, you can already imagine hearing Seth's voice through the narrative. Well thanks to the gods of literature, we now have Seth himself--along with an uber-talented cast of other Broadway vets--reading his own book in this audible.com version.

You can already read an adequate plot summary in the book's description, so I won't bother to do that here. I *will* say that hearing Seth read his own work is an absolute riot--like David Sedaris reading his own work but with Seth's own unique brand of humor. In fact, most of the book sounds like Seth is just sitting next to you spontaneously telling a story, as opposed to reading from a book.

The only negative I can offer this particular audiobook is that the audio quality of even the highest quality download is too compressed--32kbps with a 22.050kHz sample rate and mono sound. It's not enough to ruin this audio book, but for anyone who is used to listening to books-on-CD it's a bit distracting at first.

Audio quality aside, this book is an absolute treat. The vocal casting is top-notch; the humor is pervasive; and the Broadway-insider stories are total treasures.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Fantastic! As much fun as seeing a Broadway show!

One of the more delightful books I've listened to from Audible.

Not only is the story a terrific one, but the cast of the audible book is a real treat. The author reads most of the book with wonderful emotions.

But the supporting cast is great. Their voices and inflections make the whole book come alive.

Anyone whose ever been to a Broadway show, visited or lived in New York, or just listened to a show tune will love this insightful story of musical theatre.

And watching the characters grow and change is wonderful.

I want more! This universe of characters is too rich to just fritter away.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Fun Summer Read

Really fun, sweet, snarky listen. I enjoyed every minute, and the characterizations are all spot-on. The actors are all first rate. It reminds me of Armistead Maupin...Just like AM, he creates a world for us that I didn't want to leave.
Seth clearly knows his subject.

Keep writing, Seth.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

fun!

when i first started listening i thought it was going to be awful, way too over the top. then after five minutes i was chuckling to myself and i didn't stop for the rest of the book. so silly, a little predictable but satisfying and totally entertaining. the author's narration was fabulous (so to speak).

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Funny, Silly, and Bitch-tastic

I thought this book was a lot of fun. Yes, the narration is a tad over-the-top at times but it's authentic and necessary if you want to truly lose yourself in the world of backstage off (and on) Broadway. If they ever make a movie of it I might even venture out of my cave and actually go see it (which is saying a lot because I NEVER go to the movies unless I'm taking children to see cartoons).

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

GREAT FUN

This is a great book to listen to - so funny! Its also clear the real Broadway stars doing the voices are having a great time too. If you ever lived in NYC or love Broadway musicals, you'll enjoy this!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

funny!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have recommended this to my friends already. I told them if they wanted a book to listen to that would make them smile and also teach them things about Broadway, then this was the book for them!

I had no idea as to all the work that went into being a member of the orchestra for a Broadway show. It was fascinating and I will forever more be peering into the orchestra pits when I am fortunate enough to return to Broadway!

Who was your favorite character and why?

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

The author was the narrator for this book. Normally, I am leery of listening to a book read by the author, but in this case, he did a fabulous job. He WAS the character and his timing and emphasis at certain times was perfectly delicious.

Any additional comments?

I am waiting on the next one!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

fabulous fun

Funny and sweet, plus a fascinating look behind the scenes of Broadway musicals. Having the author (an actor as well as a writer) narrate the story with help from his Broadway friends really made it come to life.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Laugh Out Loud Debut

For lovers of Musical Theatre, this novel is a must read. I listen to it in my car and spent the entire ride to work in stitches on the first morning I listened to this book. I immediately recommended it to all my friends.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great fun!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. A little over the top drama, a little camp, mixed with a bit of bitey queendom make this a great listen. Kind of like a candy bar, not very good for you, but tasty to the last word.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

fabulous!

I loved it and his Seth split it up into acts like a Broadway show. and how all his Broadway friends read bits of it. all together a fantastic book! xx

Overall great audiobook experience

It's a great audiobook experience and I wouldn,t half enjoying it in print. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a great light listen, or anyone who likes musical theatre

Brilliant! Briiilliant!

I love this book. I've listened to it between 15-20 times and it never ceases to amuse. The characterisations are beautifully realised and the performance level is always 1st class.
It is my... "passion".

Really great

I'm a musical fanatic living in the UK. Initially, the WAY over-the-top 'Americanishness' of this book (mainly from the author as the narrator) was difficult to get past - BUT - I am so glad I persisted.

This book is HILARIOUS and an absolutely JOY for those with good musicals knowledge - the references to previous shows and little stories and insights to how the whole 'putting on a show' process works is absolutely wonderful and enthralling. Clearly anyone not into musicals probably wouldn't get past 5 minutes listening to this - but then you would only buy this in the first place if that was the case.

Despite my initial reservations about the narrator, he really is funny and brings the whole thing alive. Really really great stuff. The fact that some of the other characters are voiced by other actors also really helps - and some of the interpretations are just comically brilliant!

A really enjoyable listen - loved it!

A Laugh Out Loud Download

Really enjoyed this- a laugh out loud- inside look at the world of broadway musicals brillantly read by the author (with the help of some of his celebrity friends).